Dear Friends,

Helen - Ten years ago, nearly to the day, God allowed our paths to cross in a most meaningful way. Kanyere was the Director of Social Services at The Riverside Church and I was looking for a women to fill the executive director position at The Sister Fund. At that time, The Sister Fund’s mission was shifting from the intersection of spirituality and social justice to a more explicit commitment to progressive religious faith and feminist activism. I began a search for an executive director who embodied and articulated these powerful elements. A professor at Union Seminary told me about Kanyere Eaton. When the two of us met, we were both clear some part of our journeys should be walked together in professional partnership.

Kanyere - My attachment to this unique foundation began as I sat in my first board meeting amidst a diverse, brilliant group of activist women. Around the table were women of differing physical abilities, races, religions, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations and political outlooks. The Sister Fund’s grantees, equally diverse and extraordinary, quickly won my deep respect. For ten years, Helen, the staff and I have prayed for their work, as we made grants to their organizations. We have been thrilled by the privilege of playing a small role in supporting the work of women of faith who are transforming our culture and Healing Our Times (H.O.T.). When Helen first began to talk about faith and feminism, many in our community were confused. We published four special reports and ten newsletters, launched three Web sites and hosted dozens of formal workshops, dialogues and retreats in an effort to describe what we mean when we say the secular women’s movement is incomplete without its faith-based sisters.

Helen - Kanyere and I have considered the support of faith and feminism a ministry. It has been such a joy for us to minister as a team, co-directing The Sister Fund since July 2000. On July 16th, Kanyere will move to another ministerial assignment, becoming the Senior Pastor of the Fellowship Covenant Church in the Bronx. This will leave a huge, unfillable void at The Sister Fund, the Women’s Funding Network, and dozens of non-profits and NGO’s all over the world that have benefitted from Kanyere’s voice and vision. The recipient of four awards for her outstanding contributions to the field of philanthropy, she has inspired groups of us at benefits and conferences with her public prayers, lectures, sermons and keynote speeches. In addition to her external focus, she has nurtured Harville’s and my four daughters as blossoming grant makers for the sixth year in a row.

Kanyere - I have been so proud of the work of this small foundation over the years. Many of the start up organizations we helped to incubate are thriving, despite the economic climate. Giving circles we supported are moving forward with purpose and determination. A number of the secular organizations we funded have established programs that empower the lives of their religious clientele. Some of our faith-based sisters have come out of the closet about the role progressive religious practice plays in their lives as non-profit leaders. Through Helen’s commitment to Women Moving Millions, an increasing number of high net-worth women are aligning their values and their money. I am awed by what is possible when Spirit-directed women work, pray, reflect and give together. The last decade has brought me more gifts and facilitated more growth than I can enumerate or explain. I will ever be grateful to Helen, my sister, mentor and friend, for making possible this life-changing opportunity and for actively providing me with otherwise unreachable platforms from which to serve and lead.

Helen - I know I speak for The Sister Fund’s trustees, my husband Harville and our children when I say that Kanyere has been an invaluable gift to The Sister Fund. Her character, commitment and prayers shaped this work to become what it now is. Her leadership at the Sister Fund was soon felt by our New York City non-profit partners as well as the women’s funding movement as a whole. Equally important, she also became a treasured personal friend to both Harville and me. Please join us in wishing Kanyere the best as she moves into her new position as Pastor.

 In Sisterhood,

 Kanyere and Helen